Consumers International Press Release on rBGH (rBST)

Date: 3 July 1997

REJECTION OF HORMONES FOR MILK PRODUCTION
APPLAUDED BY INTERNATIONAL CONSUMER GROUP

Acknowledging the concerns of consumer groups, members of the Codex
Alimentarius Commission, the international food-standards setting body, have
roundly rejected a draft standard that would have allowed the use of a
genetically engineered growth hormone to increase milk production in cows.

At a meeting held last week (23-28 June) in Geneva, 38 countries voted to
postpone passage of the draft standard, called a Maximum Residue Limit (MRL).
Twenty-one voted for the standard, and 13 delegate abstained.

Consumers International, a federation of more than 225 consumer organisations
in over 100 countries, had strongly opposed the draft standard, saying
consumers would not benefit in any way by the usage of such hormones. The
hormone is known as recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST), which is another
name for recombinant bovine growth hormone (rbGH). It is a genetically
engineered version of a natural growth hormone found in cattle.

Consumers International welcomes the decision by Codex to re-examine
scientific data concerning the hormone, said Leen Petr, Global Policy and
Campaign Unit officer with Consumers International. It is an important step in
taking our concerns into account when developing standards that will affect
consumers everywhere.

Monsanto, one of the drug's manufacturers, has claimed use of the hormone will
benefit consumers through lower prices. However, Consumers International has
argued that there is no evidence prices actually will drop. Also, consumer
organisations expressed concerns about health and safety issues linked to the
hormone - for both humans and animals.

In their report, the Codex Commission noted that delegates who favoured
postponing adoption of the standard stressed that new scientific information
had come to light indicating that rbST could reduce cows immune deficiencies,
which could make those animals more susceptible to viral and bacterial
infections.

Consumer organisations claimed another success at the meeting, when delegates
agreed that participation by consumer and other non-governmental organisations
should be strengthened at Codex meetings. It was decided that guidelines
should
be developed for granting observer status for international NGOs at Codex and
possibly setting up a trust fund to enable participation of such groups in
Codex meetings.

Consumer groups have long been concerned about the balance of representation
between industry-funded groups and the public interest sector. In fact,
currently the approved list of 111 organisations that can send observers to
Codex meetings stands at 104 industry-funded groups, six health and nutrition
foundations and Consumers International.

This certainly is a clear recognition of the consumer role in Codex, Ms Petr
said. We are delighted with any move in the direction of greater consumer
participation.